Split top container

ABSTRACT

A container for carrying tape cartridges includes an open top box and a pair of hoods pivotally connected near the bases of opposing box ends. By slight finger pressure the hoods can be easily moved between swung-up positions where they cover the box top and swung-down positions where they uncover the box top and may serve as auxiliary receptacles.

United States Patent Inventor Emil Kovach 3757 Primavera, Los Angeles,Calif. 90065 Appl. No. 800,519

Filed Feb. 19, 1969 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 SPLIT TOPCONTAINER 1 Claim, 2Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 220/29, 220/31, 220/32, 220/94 Int. Cl B6511 51/18 Field ofSearch 206/29, 17,

45.23, 45.21, 45.13, 45; 220/29, 34, 32, 31, 94; 217/8, 9; ISO/52.8;190/16; 229/44; 224/4514, 46, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,655 2/1920 OHumy206/72 1,519,539 12/1924 Grey 229/44 2,405,955 8/1946 Hunt 217/9-X3,065,308 11/1962 Suyeoka 220/31-X 3,081,807 3/1963 Lightburn.... 150/523,362,611 1/1968 Brooks 229/44-X Primary Examiner-Raphae1 H. SchwartzAttorney-Pastoriza & Kelly ABSTRACT: A container for carrying tapecartridges includes an open top box and a pair of hoods pivotallyconnected near the bases of opposing box ends. By slight finger pressurethe hoods can be easily moved between swung-up positions where theycover the box top and swung-down positions where they uncover the boxtop and may serve as auxiliary receptacles.

PATENTEB HAR 215m INVENTORI EMIL KOVACH FIG.2

ATTORNEYS SPLIT Tor CONTAINER t The present invention relates tocontainers and more specifically to a container whose top may be quicklyuncovered by. splitting apart andpivotingdownwardly a pair ofcoversectionsorhoods.

BACKGROUND OF THE iNvEuTioN It has become very. popular to installsoundmeproducing equipment such as stereophonic tape decks'inm otorvehicles for the entertainment of the driver. Often it is annoying, andeven hazardous for the driver to reach into and withdraw different tapecartridges from the cartridge container while he is driving. f T 3Conventional tape cartridgecontainerswiisually have flapsthat aredifficultand time consuming to disconnect and then BRIEF SUMMARYOF THEINVENTION Briefly stated, the'present invention comprehends aninexpensively constructed container capable of being quickly andeffortlessly Penedand closed. f"

The container includes an' open top receptacle such as rectangular boxwith a pair of opposing end sections. A pair of U-shaped hoods ispivotally connected to c o'rresponding box end sections. Each hood maybe independently pivoted between a swung-up position where it coversa"box top portion and a. swung-down position where the top portion isuncovered. The hoods are preferably connected adjacent the bases of thebox end sections so that when pivoted to their swung-down positions theymay operate as auxiliary. receptacles for tape cartridges for example. a'1; i i

The hoods are preferably removably connected to the opposing box endsections by snap couplings. Recessed zones are formed on the box topmargins to facilitate; gaining access to the box interior. Since thecontainer can beswiftly opened and closed either partially or entirely,a person need not look at the container while depositing objects into orremoving them from the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1The numerous benefits and unique aspects of the present invention will.be fully understood when thefollowing detailed description which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the split top container of thepresent invention with the hoods positioned to close the container top;and 1 T F IG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the hoods swung to theirpositions for opening the container topl :1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 7 r Referring now toFIG. 1, a split top container 10 is constructed from an open toprectangular box l l having a closed bottom 12 and a pair of opposing endsections and 14. The top of container 10 is constituted by a'pairofU-shaped hoods 15 and 16. Hood 15 has a pair of spaced sidepanels. l7and 18 joined by cross panel 19. Similarly, hood l 6 ing :l udes a pairof spaced side panels 20 and 21 joined by a 'crosspanel 22. Hoods l5 and16 are symmetrically shapedand are pivotally connected to box endsections 13 and 14 byconventional snap couplings 23 and 24 respectively.A carrying strap 25 is secured to box 11 so container 10 can be'easilylifted and moved to different locations by a person.

is studied in conjunction. with the drawings, in

Box 11 isdivided by. a partitio n.26..int o plural compartments. A

27' and 2 8. Opposinglen'gthwise; top marginsof box 11 are formed withrecessed zones29= and 30that permit'aperson to easily slip his hand intothebox 11 in. order to remove stereo.

tapecartridges-or cassettes 33;

Edge-portions 31 and 32.0f hoods 15and arerounded so.

that when one, hoodkis swungdownwardly from abutting alignment with theother hood it will have adequate clearance and thereby be freely pivotedwithout striking or beingrestrained by the other hood.

The box 11 and hoods. l5and. 16 may be fabricated from leather,imitation leather, plastic such as vinyl, plastic impregnated withpaper, cardboard covered selectively with fabric or any. other suitablematerial. While container 10 is ideal for storing and carrying tapecartridges it may also be employed for containing medical equipment andsupplies or various other objects.

OPERATION Keeping the, above, construction in mind, it can be understoodhow previously described-disadvantages of conventional carryingcontainers are overcome or substantially eliminatedby the presentinvention.

In orderto enjoy. the advantages of the present invention, a driver witha tape deck installedinhis car for example initially selects tapecartridges 33 from his collection and loads them into container 10. Thehoods 15 and'16 are then swung upwardly to close the top of box 11. andcarrying strap 25 is moved from its orientationin F lG. 2 to that ofFIG'. I.

The container 10 is positioned on the vehicle seat or vehicle flooreither beneath the driver or straddled over the longitudinally extendingvehicle hump.- When positioned over the hump, the hoods l5 and lomay bepivoted to their swungdown positionsto help stabilize container 10.

When the driver wishesto insert a. different tape cartridge 33, he may,without diverting his eyes from the normal field of vision, easily swingone or both of the hoods downwardly by exerting slight fingerpressure'on the cross panels 19 or 22. Thus, gaining access to areplacement cartridge is swift and effortless and can be accomplishedwithout lookingdirectly at container 10'. The driver has 'theoption, todeposit previously played tape cartridges 33 into. auxiliary receptaclesdefined by the hoods 15, and 16in their swung-down positions.

From the foregoing it willbe evident thatthe present invention hasprovided a split top container in. which all of the various advantagesare fully realized.

Iclaim:

I. A split top container comprising:

a. an open top rectangular box having a pair of opposing end sectionswith base portions, and, a box top margin;

b. recessed zones formed in thebox top margin to facilitate gainingaccess to the box interior;

c. a partition in the box to divide: it into plural compartments;

d. a carrying strap attached by its opposite ends to the box endsections; 7 e. a pair of U-shaped hoods pivotally and removablyconnected to the base portions of the box end sections by snap couplingsso that the hoods may be pivoted from.

abutting swung-up positions where the box top portion is entirelycovered to swung-down positions where the hoods may serve as auxiliaryreceptacles, and, when it when the hoods are aligned in its swung-downposition without striking or being restrained by the other hood.

1. A split top container comprising: a. an open top rectangular boxhaving a pair of opposing end sections with base portions, and, a boxtop margin; b. recessed zones formed in the box top margin to facilitategaining access to the box interior; c. a partition in the box to divideit into plural compartments; d. a Carrying strap attached by itsopposite ends to the box end sections; e. a pair of U-shaped hoodspivotally and removably connected to the base portions of the box endsections by snap couplings so that the hoods may be pivoted fromabutting swung-up positions where the box top portion is entirelycovered to swung-down positions where the hoods may serve as auxiliaryreceptacles, and, when it desired to remove the hoods the snap couplingsmay be uncoupled from the box; and f. lower edge portions of the hoodsthat are rounded so that when the hoods are aligned in its swung-downposition without striking or being restrained by the other hood.